International Counter-Terrorism
The Australian Government is cooperating closely with key partners, particularly in South-East Asia, to bring terrorists to justice and to prevent further terrorist attacks. Australia’s substantial international counter-terrorism efforts are focused on law enforcement, intelligence, border and transport security, diplomacy, defence, terrorist financing, building legal capacity, countering the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism, and countering violent extremism.
Key elements of Australia’s international counter-terrorism efforts include:
- Bilateral engagement, particularly agency-to-agency practical cooperation with key partners. Australia has also concluded memorandum of understandings on counter-terrorism with Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and France. These provide frameworks to develop a sense of common purpose, share information, and facilitate practical counter-terrorism activities.
- Multilateral and regional engagement in forums such as the United Nations (UN), the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia Regional Forum (ARF), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Pacific Island Forum (PIF), and the new Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF) as well as in issue-specific groups such as the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
- Cooperation and coordination with other key partners and capacity building donors, such as the US, UK, Japan and the EU
- Enhanced engagement with experts in Australian think-tanks, academia and the private sector.
Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism Bill Patterson presents a momento to the 11000th participant in a JCLEC course, Mr Christian Wibowo. Looking on are Brigadier General Dwi Priyatno (JCLEC Executive Director) and Federal Agent Brian Thomson (JCLEC Executive Director of Programs).
South East Asia Working Group of the Global Counterterrorism Forum launched
Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism, Bill Paterson, jointly launched the South East Asia Working Group of the Global Counterterrorism Forum with his Indonesian counterparts at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) in Semarang, Indonesia, on 6 March.
The working group initiative supports the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) which was launched by the United States and Turkey in New York on 22 September 2011. One of five GCTF working groups, the South East Asia meeting brought together 11 South East Asian countries with international partners, United Nations agencies and regional organisations to deepen implementation of counter-terrorism programs and strategies.
A total of eighty-seven participants from 30 countries and four international organisations attended the meeting, which examined the particular challenges surrounding the management and custody of terrorist detainees in prisons.
The meeting coincided with the arrival at JCLEC of the centre's 11000th training course participant. The centre was opened in 2004 and has become both a centre of excellence in cross-regional law enforcement and counter-terrorism cooperation and a practical example of Australia's extensive counter-terrorism cooperation with regional partners - Indonesia in particular. South East Asian countries already have significant expertise and experience in generating best practice responses to the threat of terrorism and the South East Asia Working Group will be a useful mechanism to deepen that cooperation and to convey and connect our region's expertise to the broader international counter-terrorism effort.
Counter-Terrorism White Paper
Released on 23 February 2010, the Counter-Terrorism White Paper, Securing Australia – Protecting our Community, sets out Australia’s counter-terrorism objectives and the means by which the Government will pursue them. It explains the nature of the terrorist threat to Australia and outlines the Australian Government’s policy and strategy for countering domestic and international terrorism. The Government’s strategy has four key elements: analysis, protection, response and resilience.
Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism
On 5 September 2008, Mr William (Bill) Paterson was appointed as Australia’s Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism. The Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism is responsible for developing and implementing Australia's international counter-terrorism efforts. The Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism plays a key role in coordinating policy cooperation, capacity building and operational collaboration between Australian agencies and international counter-terrorism partners.
The Department’s Counter-Terrorism Role
- Ensure a comprehensive and integrated policy approach to combating terrorism internationally, including by recommending to Ministers priorities for international counter-terrorism engagement
- Build international links by leading negotiations on counter-terrorism cooperation and holding regular consultations with other countries
- Support and develop international initiatives that build resilience against extremist groups that advocate terrorist activity
- Promote and support international initiatives that build social cohesion, including interfaith outreach activities
- Support and coordinate capacity building initiatives managed by other Australian agencies
- Research and advise on the implications of international terrorism developments
- Promote and support activities to counter the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism
- Promote enhanced measures to ensure the safety of explosive materials
- Coordinate efforts to ensure Australia’s effective implementation of its obligations under United Nations counter-terrorism instruments
- Manage the listing of individuals and organisations under Australia’s terrorist proscription and asset freezing regime
- Advise Australian citizens and businesses overseas about terrorism-related security threats
- Ensure the security and integrity of Australia’s passport issuing system
- Ensure the security of Australian embassies and consulates abroad
- Liaise with foreign diplomats and consular missions in Australia, and with relevant Australian agencies, with respect to the protection of those missions and other premises and visiting foreign dignitaries.
Dealings with Terrorists – Australia's international obligations
What Australians and Australian businesses need to know
Australia has enacted legislation to ensure it meets its international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 (and successor resolutions) and 1373 to freeze the assets of terrorists, The Government has passed laws to prohibit a person who is holding assets that are owned or controlled by a designated terrorist individual or entity from using or dealing with those assets (in other words, the person holding those assets must freeze them) and to prohibit any person from making any assets available to designated terrorist individuals or entities. The department maintains a Consolidated List of all individuals and entities to which this terrorist asset freezing regime applies.
- More information on Australia's terrorist asset freezing regime.
DFAT maintains close contacts with Australia's financial sector to ensure asset freezing arrangements take account of the sector's legitimate interests. Australian businesses, in particular exporters, should also be aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that they do not do business with an individual or entity listed on the Consolidated List.
In addition to the Consolidated List, the Australian Government also maintains a list of groups that are proscribed as terrorist organisations under the Australian Criminal Code. Go to the National Security Australia website to view the Criminal Code list of 'terrorist organisations'. If a group is listed as a 'terrorist organisation' it is an offence to:
- direct the activities of the organisation
- recruit persons to the organisation
- receive training from or provide training to the organisation
- receive funds from or make available funds to the organisation
- provide support or resources to the organisation
Links
Other Australian Government Departments
- National Security Hotline (1800 123 400)
- Attorney-General’s Department
- Australian Customs Service
- Australian Federal Police (AFP)
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
- Australian Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)
- Department of Defence
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)
- Department of Infrastructure and Transport